Police investigating overnight death at Penticton Secondary

Photo: Chelsea Powrie

An officer searches the track near Penticton Secondary Sunday morning.

UPDATE: 10:40 a.m.

A young man was killed near Penticton Secondary School overnight.

The man's body was discovered near the track at the high school at about 5:30 a.m. When police arrived, he was unresponsive and suffering from “critical injuries.”

Paramedics took him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police are calling his death "suspicious."

“Our priority now is to identify this young man and speak with his family,” said Supt. Brian Hunter, officer in charge of the Penticton RCMP.

“We are asking anyone who has information about this incident or can assist in identifying this young man to contact us.”

The RCMP have not disclosed the injuries the man suffered, or his age, but a man who attended the area early Sunday said the victim appeared to be a teenager.

Cody Trahan was up early Sunday morning when he saw a picture of a bloodied body recently posted to the Penticton Facebook page, with the poster asking people to call police. Trahan called 911, and then grabbed his first aid kit and went down to the school.

"He saw what he thinks is a young kid," said Trahan's mother. "It's a known party spot in Penticton for kids."

Firefighters arrived before Trahan was able to reach the injured person.

"They did CPR on him and they pulled out the defibrillator, but they never actually did it ... we thought he had passed away," Trahan's mother said.

As a father of a 14-year-old, Trahan says more police are needed in Penticton.

"I've got kids in this town too and I went down there because I care about the community and I'm going to be pushing for more police presence in this town, because it is absolutely needed," Trahan said.

Police have not said if any arrests have been made.

Officers are expected to remain at the scene throughout the day investigating.

ORIGINAL: 10:10 a.m.

Police are investigating what appears to be a serious incident near Penticton Secondary School Sunday morning.

Dozens of RCMP evidence markers are scattered around the track near the school, and police vehicles are stationed around the region.

The track is cordoned off with yellow police tape, as officers comb the grounds, investigating.

It's not clear what occurred to draw the large police presence, but some on the Penticton Facebook group have suggested an assault took place in the area overnight.

Castanet has reached out to the RCMP for more information.